Over and Out

Ksschhhhhhhhhhh (That’s the walkie-talkie sound that comes after "over and out")

Quick story...Dad went to swim laps at the pool the other day. Yes, he is such an athlete. Well, around his last lap, he started to look around the pool for the ladder. He scanned the pool's perimeter, finding no way out other than pulling himself up and over the edge. Furthermore, the water level ended about two feet before the edge of the pool. He knew this exit would be interesting, especially since he lost so much of his upper body strength after both surgeries. He said a quick prayer, asking God to divert eyes as he took a big breath, and shimmied his way up the wall. Let’s just say he described his efforts as part army crawl, part walrus. The road to recovery can be oh so humbling.

I cannot tell you what an encouragement you all have been to me. Looking back, I thank God for all the support and prayers from all of you. This allowed me to post more specific prayer requests, but more importantly, it enabled everyone to follow our day-by-day journey of healing. Through writing this blog, I articulated and shared my feelings in a deeper way than I would have on my own. Thank you.

Feel free to email me any time. If you have any great PR writing positions for me, I'm looking for a job in January. Right now, I'm doing a media relations internship for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse. It's been an incredible opportunity and I just love what I'm doing there. God Bless you all.

Kelly Yerkovich
kyerkovich@yahoo.com

Where have I been?

Between a vacation to Colorado and some plain exhaustion and laziness on my part, it's been quite some time since I've updated the blog. While away, I listened to a voice mail from Dad. The strength and normalcy of his voice brought tears to my eyes. The familiar Daddy sound conquered the days of whispers, resembling the likeness of his pre-surgery voicemail.

Last Sunday, Dad and I went to the Orange County Fair, where his Kung Fu group performed demonstrations. He joined his friends on stage, participating in the inspiration instead of the wresteling. His instructor introduced him as a 7th degree black belt who is still recovering from significant surgery. I've never felt more proud watching someone just sit on stage.

More Answers and Updates: From Kay
We want all you prayer partners to know just how huge your prayers and what they accomplished. The technical name for Milan's condition that prompted the emergency surgery is Cardiac Tamponade. This is a rapid accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sack that surrounds the heart. This build up puts pressure on the heart causing it to be unable to pump adequately to supply oxygen to the body. I did some research and every article said this is a life-threatening condition that is a medical emergency. The condition progresses rapidly and is "universally fatal" if not diagnosed and treated promptly.

Our experience in the hospital on Saturday was anything but prompt. All I can say is God was answering our prayers to keep Milan alive in spite of their snail's pace. Had I known what I know now, I would have been screaming up and down the halls to get a doctor into the room sooner. All day it was nurses and nurse practitioners. I realize now, in hindsight, that I was watching Milan's body shut down that Saturday. He was so weak he could not stay awake. He slept through a blood draw and the echocardiogram. His hands and feet were freezing because blood was being diverted to the vital organs. He did not eat one bite of food for two days. His skin on his chest was purple and molted on Saturday by noon. I found out later this was another sign of his body shutting down. He looked five months pregnant (his body could not get rid of the fluid because his kidneys were not working and his liver was swollen according to Dr. Seleah). His legs were si swollen he had no visible knees or ankles. In spite of this his oxygen levels (according to the monitor) were good which is why they kept telling me "he's stable".
The doctor that finally did walk into the room, Dr. Seleah, is known through out the hospital as "the genius". He was called in on the case because he is a kidney specialist and Milan's kidneys were barely functioning. Turns out he has other specialties as well. It only took him 45 seconds to determine Milan was in big trouble and he started ordering everyone around to get him into ICU NOW! and into emergency surgery ASAP. It all happened so fast after Dr. Seleah came. I credit him with saving Milan's life or… should I say, God used him to save Milan's life.
We have been home for 10 days and make progress day by day. Milan's lost 15 pounds of fluid and looks like himself again. He is very tired and a bit discouraged by how low his energy level is. It does get a tiny bit better every day. I keep reminding him how much his body has gone through. I'm surprised how exhausted I am too and have slept a lot. It was a very difficult emotional experience for me to see Milan so weak and feel discounted by the nurses who kept telling me all the signs I just described ( I pointed them all out) were no big deal. When I started asking questions after the second surgery, boy did I get the run-around.
We saw Dr. Laxs who did the original repair several days ago. His work on Milan's heart was very successful and the repaired valve is working perfectly. He was on vacation when all this happened and was very troubled by our story and all that happened. He assured us it would be looked into and discussed among their entire team.
So you all had a part in Milan's survival and we continue to need your prayers for patience and wisdom as we recover from this ordeal. Thanks to all of you who posted your love and prayers on the blog. Your words of love and encouragement have meant so much to us. Love and Thanks, Kay

A Stroll With Daddy

Today, Dad and I went for a walk. We made it about halfway up our hill, and then turned around to come back home. The incline challenged Dad in a way the slick, level hospital halls did not. Throughout the day, Dad read your encouraging comments and sat on the patio, feeling invigorated by the lively wind. In the afternoon, I drove home from the gym and found the grandkids climbing on Papa, adorning him with hugs and smiles. Each day, Dad gains strength, stretching his limits and finding more normalcy every moment. I'll update in a few days. Thank you for your love and support.

Message from Kay

It's time you heard from Kay. Kelly is an amazing writer and I appreciate her keeping all of you up to date. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate your prayers and concern. Your comments have been encouraging, inspiring and we feel your love. This has been a very challenging 18 days for both of us in different ways. We are both tired physically and emotionally and can finally rest now that we are home. Milan probably did not sleep more than three or four hours at a stretch for the last 18 days. In the last few days, I am finally feeling the emotions from all I experienced and I have alternated between crying and feeling angry that no doctor came into our room for nine hours on the day he ended up in emergency surgery. We were told by a number of different people that Milan may not be here today if he did not have such a strong heart. All the medical people gasped when they heard how much fluid was around his heart. (Almost 7 cups). It is God's work that he is alive and I'm so thankful.

It's funny how we forget be thankful for the little thing until they are taken away. Eating, bodily functions and just going outside into fresh air are all things we take for granted until we cannot do them. Last night (our last night in the hospital) we danced (obviously it was slow dance) in our room to Frank Santria's "Fly Away With Me". What a joy to be able to share that moment. We both cried.

Keep praying for us that we can regain our energy for ministry and heal from the trama of the whole experience. I was strong when I needed to be, but now I feel exhausted and tearful. Thanks from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to read, pray and fight the spiritual battle with us. We love you all and are grateful that we have the hope of heaven where every tear will be wiped away and we shall be completely healed, phycially, emotionally and experience all God as stored up for us in our eternal home.

Love, Kay

Home Sweet Home

My favorite golden sunset light shimmers over the patio at the Yerkovich backyard. Our two big trees rustle in the summer breeze and quite music sings in the background. Today, we left the beeping, barking monitors at the hospital, along with the needles, stiff beds, breathing tubes, and soggy food. Praise God Daddy Milan is home sweet home! He did bring about 15 different prescriptions with him, but now he'll get a dose of the best medicine: home.

As my fingers type, I am brushing my teeth and printing all these sweet comments for my Dad. I'm on my way back up to UCLA today after a day at home to pay bills, water plants, run errands, and get a clean supply of clothes for mom.

Doctors decided not to use a needle to draw the fluid out of Dad'd lungs. Instead, they're hoping the right medicines will do the trick. I think he feels done being stuck with things. I believe Dad will move from ICU to the floor today. Pray for good nurses. Doctors want Dad to lose 10 pounds of fluid before he can come home. He's been walking tons to try and speed the process along.

Lots of love. Thank for the prayers and support. Reading your comments makes me cry.

Fluid Retention

This is from Dad's first day after his emergency operation. He's such a trooper!

FLUID RETENTION! This is Milan's biggest issue and it must be solved before he can fully recover. His chest x-rays look good, so his heart isn't building up fluid again. However, doctors will probably remove some fluid from his lungs today. It just keeps accumulating. They typically do a local anesthetic and use a long needle to draw out the fluid. Pray for his lungs to respond positively, his body to heal, and for the needle not to cause internal bleeding. That is the last thing he needs!

Pray for doctors as they have some important decisions to make: using a pace maker or using medicine to regulate Milan's heart beat. Like I mentioned before, his heart beats are so much more steady than before, but doctors don't want any arrhythmia. If his fluid retention problem stops, medicine is the more likely option. Unfortunately, his medicine could be contributing to his fluid problem. He is on a blood thinner called coumadin, which helps prevent strokes (strokes are a common concern with arrhythmia). If his fluid retention does not stop, a pace maker could monitor the arrhythmia and decrease the need for coumadin. See the vicious circle? Just pray the fluid stops all together.

Just Keep Swimming

I thought of this line from Finding Nemo: Just Keep Swimming. He needs this marathon mentality at the moment, since his emergency surgery sent him back to the starting line. He's been watching the swimming trials for the U.S. Olympic Team. He calls their commitment and skills inspiring. Inspiration is exactly what my Daddy needs at a time like this. Dad alternates periods of rest and exercise, gaining momentum and testing the waters of recovery. He walked twice yesterday, ate every meal, and actually slept for a record breaking six hours! All this is a miracle considering the surgeons removed 1700cc of fluid off of his heart, pericardial sack, and lungs. I'm not familiar with metric units, but it was enough to make doctors wonder how dad was still alive. All the prayer requests are the same...recovery, restful sleep, energy, neck pain, and a steady heartbeat. Yesterday, I watched Dad's heart monitors, admiring the beautiful, even spacing between each beat. I've seen so much arrhythmia since his first surgery that this consistent drum of life brings tears to my eyes. Every once in a while he'll have bursts of irregularity, but we're all on a learning curve. I'm trusting God more each day, learning to accept his will regardless of what he brings our way. I've finally swallowed the lump that's lived in my throat for the past 2 weeks.

P.S. Kay asks you pray for her health and wellbeing so she can stay with Dad. Her intuition and careful eye has proved to be so important! She definitely feels a little hyper aware of everything since his last complication. I think she's assumed more responsibility in making sure he is okay. Pray for her peace and wisdom.

Help Me if You Can I'm Feelin Down

Dad cried when listening to the Beattles song the other day. "Help me get my feet back on the ground. Won't you please, please help me." I can't believe what my poor Daddy has gone through. I wish I could do it for him. I guess that's what Jesus did for us. He carried the pain of our world, the suffering, and the consequence of our sin. I think God can relate to how we feel...he sees, hears, and feels our pain.

Today, the name of the game is neck pain and fluid reduction. Milan's back and neck must be a chiropractor's nightmare. Spreading ribs open is bound to create some displacement. He complains more of neck pain than incision discomfort. Also, please pray for a regular heart beat and consistent blood pressure. Sleep seems to help, but he is so sleep deprived that he keeps falling right into REM sleep, where dreaming occurs. Suddenly, people appear in his room or he finds himself in places that feel as vivid as real life. I'm praying he'll fall asleep and find himself with God or flying or something fun:) He just told me he was in church in his last doze, so that's a start.

Also, his fluid retention is subsiding, but still an issue. They need to rehydrate his body, while removing fluid from his lungs, heart, and places it shouldn't be. I'll tell you one thing: we take our bodies healthy function for granted. After seeing all the delicate balances that must be regulated, I'm amazed we're all walking and living day to day without more problems. Sometimes I wonder if we'll ever get out of here. I'm overwhelmed by all the things that must fall into place before Dad can come home. I just have to remember God is so much bigger than this. I remember hiking Half Dome, feeling amazed by how God merely spoke our world into place. He holds Daddy in his almighty arms, controlling every breath and pulse with knowing hands.

I Love My Daddy!

Back In ICU at the New Building

Milan made it through the surgery okay. Turns out, this was a life saving procedure. Doctors said Milan wouldn't have made it if he wasn't as strong as he was. Thank God he's a Kung Fu Master! I must say I lost it when I heard what a close call this was. They made a minimal incision near his lower sternum and were able to drain the fluid without having to open his ribs again. They also drained some fluid from his right lung while they were in there. BIG PRAYER REQUEST: Pray fluid does not continue to build up around his heart. There is no guarantee this can't happen again! At the moment, he still has chest tubes draining any excess, but they can't leave the chest tubes in too long since it runs the risk of infection. Pray for the appropriate timing to remove the chest tubes.

Dad is in the new Ronald Regan Medical Center. They moved every patient from the old building to the new facility today. It's so nice to be in a brand new hospital that smells nice, has clean floors, new technology, a more comfortable rooms. Pray for Dad's heart to be encouraged and for his recovery to be more noticeable every day.

We're all exhausted, especially mom. I was amazed at her strength last night. She and my brother Kevin pushed for more tests and doctors to determine the problem. They saved his life. When the right doctor finally made it to our room, he determined the problem by looking at my dad for a matter of minutes. He noticed his swollen stomach, lack of pulse with inhalation, difficulty breathing, cold extremities, and extreme exhaustion, and then fit the pieces together for appropriate treatment. He's an angel. He then set things in motion, demanding quick treatment. He knew the severity of the situation. He came in at 5:00. Dad was in surgery by 6:30. God hands covered Dad last night. So did your prayers. Keep them coming. We need them more than ever.

- Daddy's girl

Prayers needed now...

Milan was sent back to the Operating Room tonight after an evaluation by an internist. We think that his significant setback is due to fluid between his heart and pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart). This is causing Milan's heart to work harder than it should. We think that after this procedure, he should improve quickly. Please pray for his kidney and liver throughout this process as they are currently impaired.

It's going to be a late night so we will have an update in the morning.

Thank you so much for the continued prayers everyone.

A Few Steps Back

Recovery is slowing and taking a few steps back. We're praying for answers, so appropriate help can be underway. This morning Dad couldn't go to the bathroom, he could barely walk, he felt short of breath, and the scale says he gained 20 pounds, which seems impossible after hardly eating hospital food. I'm wondering if he has fluid build up somewhere, which would account for the weight gain, weakness, and trouble breathing normally. Mom is tired and done. Really, they both just feel burried by days of the same story again and again. We need every prayer we can get at this point. Pray for answers, helpful treatment, encouragement, and for my daddy to get better. God is Good.

When Can I Come Home?

Milan's physical progress is still moving along, but this morning he hit an emotional wall. He wants to come home and he's feeling stur crazy in his hospital room. Mornings are typically difficult for him--he doesn't sleep well, the medicines give him vivid and sometimes troublesome dreams, and he wakes up tired and discouraged. I'm on my way up with a goodie basket to cheer him up:) I printed all the comments from the blog so he can read your supportive notes for himself. We're praying doctors can give him an estimate of when he can come home so he has something to looks forward to.

A Fresh Shave and Clean Hair

It's amazing how much clean hair and a fresh shave makes a world of difference after a week without it. I visited Dad yesterday, and then rushed off to work. (Sorry I didn't get a chance to update you). He went for a walk, ate lunch, sat up for a massage, and laughed harder than I've heard in quite some time. For the first time, I really saw a glimpse of my Daddy since his surgery last week.

After I left, they drained the fluid from his lungs. Immediately, he felt relieved and able to breath more freely. I think such quick, positive results helped his spirits too.

Also, the doctors feel it is too early to put in a pace maker. As of now, they regulate his heart beat and blood pressure with medicine. In a way, this answered my prayer. I asked God for a delay or uncertainty if Dad could pull through at some point and regulate these vitals on his own. The Lord will guide us.

Permanent Pace Maker?

Today we need wisdom. Doctors are considering placing a permanent pace maker in Milan's chest. (It goes under the skin, it wouldn't be an invasive procedure like the valve repair.) The doctors say his lower heart rate is a reponse to them reducing the size of his atrium.

Pray the doctors can use discernment and wisdom to make this decision. If Dad can pull through and bounce back without it at some point, that would be ideal. If not, perhaps the pace maker is the best solution.

Hearts are so complex...can you believe God created them? I know God can put Dad's back together.

Sleep Deprived

Poor Dad is having a hard time today. He's hardly slept in the past four days and he is starting to show signs of sleep deprivation. He's battling incoherency and doctors are trying to get him comfortable enough so he can rest. Sleep is the biggest prayer request right now!

Dad is also having a hard time breathing due to some fluid in his lungs. He needs to do breathing exercises to expand his lung capacity as well. These exercises will help him breath better and reduce the fluid.

We're all tired, especially Dad. Pray for rest.

Pace Maker

Updates first. Dad's making progress in some areas and still needs a little help in others. Today he was eating, sleeping, and using the restroom. It's good to get body function up and running! Dad's heart rate and blood pressure is still a little lower than they want. He had a heart rate in the 50s and they wanted it in the 70s. They hooked up his pace maker for partial use, only on one section of his heart. He responded well and it kept his beat at an even 77. If they end up needing to use the pace maker on all sections of his heart, they will send him back to ICU. Pray his body can transition to independent function without assistance.

Now the good stuff. My sister Amy and I visited Dad today. We sported "Team Milan" shirts that read "I love Dad" on the back. Mom's said, "I love my cute husband" instead. Dad said we could of been called "Team Blonde" too.

For the record, we call Amy "sister", so that's what she'll be referred to from now on.

So sister brought a luxurious goody bag for Dad--a nice down pillow that puts those plastic hospital puffs to shame, a cool fan for his room, a heated lavender pillow for neck relief, and massage oils to loosen his tense muscles. We sat him up, turned his new Father's Day iPod on a worship playlist, snuggled the warm lavender pillow around his neck, and massaged oil into his back, neck, hands, and feet. His poor feet and hands are so swollen. (He reminded me to massage towards his heart:) Thank you Dr. Milan! All the nurses wanted a turn too! We got a few smiles on his face and a rendition of "How Great Thou Art" with his roommate.

Prayer Requests:
- A healthy transition off the pace maker. Dad need to sustain a good heart rate and blood pressure on his own.
- Restful sleep to help recover.
- A place to stay for Mom! She is staying at the Triverton house at UCLA, but her reservation is up after tonight. Unless someone makes a cancellation, she'll have to move hotels or go home.

No News is Good News

Our patient Milan is doing well. All is about the same with the exception of some more shut eye. He could barely sleep because of the pain (I wonder why?!) The nurses didn't want to give him too much pain medication because it makes his blood pressure drop too much--kind of a miserable cycle. Rest and recovery remain the name of the game.

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. I keep telling Dad about all of your sweet comments.

ICU is the Bomb Digity!

I must say, the Intensive Care Unit at the UCLA Medical Center is the Rolls Royce of hospital care. A private nurse monitors Milan's recovery 24 hours a day, tending to his every need with expertise and care.

When I saw my Dad for the first time, I was impressed by his pink color. Besides the tubes and cords everywhere, he looks incredible for being just 24 hours out of surgery. In fact, I've grown a fond comfort for all these machines and monitors. As much as Milan complains about the discomfort they cause, they also provide safety, consistency, and the ability to monitor his progress closely.

In between periods of rest, the nurse challenges Milan to sit in a chair, expand his lung capacity with breathing exercises, and drink and eat. I'm often surprised by how pushing his comfort level speeds recovery. They hope to have him walking by tomorrow. He is a great patient, even when in pain. He complains of muscle soreness from lying still of a stiff operating table for 8 hours. Mom and I have been massaging his neck, back, hands, and feet to relieve his tightness.

Praise God for all so far and continue to pray for recovery, rest, and peace.

Lots of Love

Trash the Tubes

Milan is so relieved to have the breathing tubes removed. Immediately, he whispered, "That feels better." Our Milan set a record--breathing tubes can stay in as long as two days and he got the okay for removal in two and a half hours. (He told me he would set that record before the surgery:)

Dr. Laks visited the family yesterday. Turns out this surgery was even more imperative than we originally thought. Dr. Laks informed us Milan's mitral valve was abnormal all together, his atrium was abnormally enlarged (we knew he had a big heart), and he had significant leakage from the valve as well. He described the procedure as a complicated repair, which explains the length of the surgery. We felt your prayers throughout the day, but still found ourselves anxious when things took longer than expected. Dr. Laks described the results as favorable considering the task at hand. He is satisfied with the efficiency of Milan's heart. Yay!

A Beating Heart

Praise God! Dr. Laks repaired Milan's own valve. He is off the heart and lung machine, and his heart is beatting! Such a relief to hear. Milan should arrive in intensive care in the next half hour.

Pray for his recovery, especially in the next few days. Specific Prayer Requests:
- Pray Milan's recovery can avoid post-operative complications
- Pray his blood stays clear of clots and embolisms
- Pray for peace and comfort while the breathing tubes are still in his throat
- Pray for wisdom on behalf of the nurses and staff.

Thank you for your prayers. God is good!

God's Sense of Humor

At about 12:45 we got a call from the operating room that Milan is on the heart and lung machine. Now Dr. Laks can navigate the intracies of his heart with his skilled hands. From what he can see so far, he feels he can repair Milan's valve.

I must say today's lesson is in patience and trust. In a waiting room filled with many eager families, the mix of emotions is palpable. Each time the phone rings, I wait to hear if they yell out a butchered version of the name "Yerkovich." After one phone call, I felt tears welling up in my eyes as the reality of this day hit me. My mom walked me outside and gave me a hug. The cool breeze and her soothing embrace soothed my nerves, breaking the day's clouds like strong beams of light.

Suddenly we heard a voice behind us. "Oh thats so sweet. Women can do that, but men can't. It's a real talent." The voiced continued as if talking on a cell phone, "You gotta see this Joe, it's so beautiful. Oh ya, I'll get those papers to you soon." We turned around, only to find a homeless man comentating our moment of comfort. He sat and talked to himself, his hand clutching not a phone, but a white grocery bag of belongings.

We giggled as he continued to talk on our behalf, "Women can do this. It's so nice," A second later, he walked over, looking at us with light blue eyes behind rough, tan skin. "That was really nice," he said. "She was sad, but you gave her a hug and now she's better."

"You're right," my mom responded. "Comfort is important."

"Oh ya. Most men don't get it, but I do. Women just get it," he muttered as he scuffled away.

We laughed at his comments, but also left endeared with his honesty. God shows even a man on the streets understands the importance of comfort and connection.

Now Underway

Due to surgery prep and some delays, they are now making their way to Milan's heart. Pray all goes smoothly as they transition his body to the heart and lung machine.

Absolutely, Positively, without a Doubt, NO FEAR! (Not even a little bit)

This morning a ratted, torn shirt hung loosely over Milan’s shoulders. Some thin holes along the back emerged from thousands of spin cycles in the washing machine. Other larger tears were battle scars from his Kung Fu mass attack. With five guys attacking you at once, this shirt survived the incessant ambush of kicks, elbows, and for the moment, harmful hands. Through defense and retaliation, Milan proved he deserved a black belt hanging from his waist. He lived the bold message on the back of this shirt: Absolutely, Positively, without a Doubt, NO FEAR! (Not even a little bit).

Today a different kind of mass attack is at hand--one that requires more precision and repair than blocks and throws. Both can be nerve racking, but both strengthen the heart. It’s funny how pain seems to be a prerequisite for growth and repair. Muscle fibers tear to build strength, fires replenish soil, trimming a garden bare solicits new blossoms; all marks of the curse.

Today, Milan faces a surgery that will bring revitalization and efficiency to his heart. Please pray for the procedure to go well, the doctors’ discernment, and peace for Kay. Milan will be in intensive care for 1 to 2 days after his surgery. He will need to relax with breathing tubes in his throat until doctors feel he is ready to breath on his own. Pray for peace in his heart and mind during this uncomfortable time.

Thank you so much for your support and prayers. We can feel them. I’ll update you soon.

Kelly

Mitral Valve Prolapse

THE MITRAL VALVE: It consists of two parachute-like leaflets, located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It's like a one-way valve, letting oxygenated blood flow from the atria into the left ventricle when relaxed. Once the ventricles contract, it closes to prevent blood from going back into the left atrium.
MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE: When the mitral valve doesn't close properly, it prolapses or flaps backward. This allows blood to leak back into the left atrium, which is called mitral regurgitation. In a sense, it makes the heart's pumps less effective when blood takes 3 steps forward and 2 steps back so to speak. In more severe cases, it can lead to an enlarged heart, irregular beating, and without monitoring, heart failure.
FREQUENCY OF OCCURENCE: Mitral Valve Prolapse is the most common heart vavle abnormality. It affects about 5 to 10 percent of people worldwide.
OTHER NAMES: Click Murmur syndrome, or Barlow's syndrome.
FACT: Did you know this condition is more common in tall, slim people, with long arms and fingers? Sounds like Milan to me!

Two Men: A poem by Kay Yerkovich

Two men; both with a reputation and talent that causes others to seek them and wait for their availability.

Two men; sometimes weary with the unending line of broken people seeking their help looking to them for healing.

Two men; both tending to exposed wounded hearts, holding for a time the destiny of another in their hands.

Two men; both diagnosing, finding the broken places that limit the full vitality of life giving support.

Two men: both observing hearts bearing marks of the curse.

One sees malformations, disease, marks of aging, hearts that struggle to sustain the rhythm of life.

The other sees hearts that hide, blame, covet and languish in unfulfilled hopes, struggling to give and receive love.

Two men:
One skilled with the delicate handing of the scalpel, cutting, repairing and stitching; his desire is to give the gift of time.

The other skilled at exposing and loosening the roots that choke and strangle life giving love; his desire is to give the gift of fulfilling connection.

Two men:
Both with a ready smile, a patient listening ear and the ability to inspire trust in their patients.

Two men:
Both willing to inflict pain because they know it is the only path to healing.

Meet Dr. Hillel Laks

World renown Dr. Hillel Laks is chief of cardiothoracic surgery at UCLA Medical Center. With his expertise, research, and innovative approaches to heart surgery, patients of all ages travel from around the world to be touched by his magical hands. As the principal investigator for the UCLA Total Artificial Heart Program, he draws from brilliance and creativity to find workable solutions for heart disease. Just as the world displays a diverse people, Dr. Laks describes each heart as unique. Therefore, each case requires flexibility and quick discernment once in the operating room. While many might experience intimidation from the uncertainty this creates, Dr. Laks takes on even the most challenging and seemingly hopeless cases. Perhaps his love for art, fiction writing, and history sparks his appreciation, instead of fear, for the individuality of each patient.

“I always used to paint when I was in high school and college, and once I rotated onto surgery and found something I could do with my hands, it appealed to me,” he said.

Many of Dr. Laks groundbreaking solutions to heart disease are now becoming standard procedure around the world. One of his most miraculous accomplishments includes responding to the shortage of heart transplants for older patients. With the scarcity of heart donors, younger patients typically receive priority. Hopeful recipients over the age of 65 are often rejected due to their age. Dr. Laks provided a solution by turning to a more plentiful source: repairing hearts considered unfit for transplant. In his first case, he performed quadruple-bypass surgery on a 53-year-old heart, and then transplanted it in a 68-year-old man.

Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Dr. Laks graduated with honors from Witwatersrand Medical School in Johannesburg. He has shared his discoveries in over 300 articles published in medical journals and trains other doctors around the world. He participated in 10 missions to teach physicians in Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Peru. His expertise and research also encompass pediatric cardiac surgery, cardiac assist devices, robotic and minimally invasive surgery, gene therapy to prevent cardiac rejection, valve repair, and finding techniques to extend the time a donated heart can be preserved.

Lives from around the world trust the wisdom, experience, and intuition of his hands. Dr. Hillel Laks truly shines with both brilliance and creativity, casting light and hope into even the most dim circumstances.